Basket



B. F. KELLS June 29., 1937.-

BASKET Origina1-Filed NOV. 14, 1954 s sheets-sheet 1 ,v w w f z -Mmw/ f w Z /Q Siv r j( 7 M@ f io a, w a n B. F. KELLS June` 29,; 193 7.

BASKET Original Filed Nov 14. 1934 3 Sheets-She'et 2v fra/enger mrz ffl/@Z215 June 29, 1937. B 'F- KLLS Re. 20,428

BASKET Original Filed Nov.l 14. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y; g. (L. MAM

lastminute 29, i937 Re, 420,428v

-UNlTEo STATES, PATENT OFFICE Benjamin F. Kells, clnclnnati, ohio, assignor 4m Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 1li., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,999,461, dated April 30, 1935, Serial No. 753,032, November 14, '1934. Application for reissue April 12, 1937, Serial No.

20 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to improvements in re- Fig. 8 is'a perspective view, partly in sectionceptacles and more particularly to a box or bas-A of a modified form of the invention. ket adapted to be made from paper or breboard. Fig. 9 is a detail view of another modified form One object of the present invention is to proof handle.

vide a simple and economical paperboard box or Similar reference numerals throughout the 5 basket which can be shippedin a collapsed conseveral views indicate the same parts. dition to the user and can be readily set up by The present invention provides a simple and him without requiring the use of any special convenient basket construction having reinforcedv erecting or assembling equipment. side wallsand a rim portion at the upper edge l0 Another object of the invention is to provide thereof vserving additionally t0 reinforce and 10 a box or basket of strong and sturdy form, havstiifen the basket and includes the use of a. handle ing a relatively smooth interior and exterior, par-l adapted to serve both as a carrying means and e, ticularly avoiding raw or rough edges along the means for securing the basket in its assembled tops of the side walls. form.

Other objects of the invention are to provide Referring more particularly to the drawings, 15

a reinforcedtop edge construction for the walls the basket, indicated aS a Whole at 5,y in Fig- 1 of the basket and to provide an arrangement by may be formed Of any Cheap material, such as which the parts ofsthe basket may be eii'ectively fibre or paper board, which is capable of being secured together by'means which also serves as folded or bent Without appreciable breaking.

a. strong and durable handle for the basket.. A preferred form of the blank is illustrated in 20 A still further object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 2 y This blank comprises a central panel 6 vide an alternative construction of handle which forming the bOttOm 0f the banket. Side lpanels l, 'may be united with the basket by simple staplin 7, forming the Side Walls and end DenelS 5, 3 operation forming the end walls. End wall flaps arepref- An additional object is to provide a ,cover for erebly 0f Such a length eS t0 Substantially meet, :25 a basket of the type described which cover will not when folded inwardly against the side walls. be likely to become readily displaced during han In order t0 Strengthen and Stiffen the upper dlirlg of the basket. .J ledges of the side and end Walls and also for the Another object is to supply a special blank of PllrDOSe 0f providing a smooth upper edge for so nbrebcard or the like which may be folded to the basket Walls there is preferably provided at form a box or basket body capable of standing in each end 0f the blank a Strip lll- TlleSe Strips; `set-up condition without the use of auxiliary fasin the present instance, extend the entirelength telling means of the'end wall panel 8 and the end wall iiaps 9, 9.

To these and other ends the invention resides In Order t0 facilitate bending Ofl the Strips Il) in certain improvements and combinations of around the corner of the basket, die-cut openings parts, all as will be hereinafter more. fully de- Il, ll are preferably Clit in the blank Where the' scribed, the novel features being pointed out in Corners 0f end Wall a and end Well flap 9 meet the claims at the 'end of the specication. the strip Il) In the drawings: The end Well DenelS may be secured to the side -40 Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of Wells in any desired manner but in the present 40 a preferred embodiment of the invention. instance it is preferred t0 employ a handle mem- Fig 2 is a plan View of the blank ber so constructed and assembled with the side Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a preferred Walls and end Wan afps as t0 maintain Said form of handle. Y Walls and flaps lnassembled condition. For this,

4;, Fig- 4 is a fragmentary perspective View mus purpose'the handle member I2 is employed, see 45 mung how the basket 1s to be folded ln the Fig' 1 and 3' brucess of assembly 1f 'heihancklle I2 may be constructed in one piece es red ut in the present instance is illusoifrih; plangfiew '2f the blank forming-a trated as comprising two sections, I2' and I2".

0 c Ir s is bskd t 1- f As each section is identical, a description of one 50 hange a e a1 .View 0 a modmed form 0f will suftlce. Each section comprises a shank I3 substantially parallel with the bottom of the bas- Fig. 7 ls a detail view illustrating the method ket, A hook portion I4 is provided at the free of assembly of the handle shown in Fig. 6 with end of the shank I3, such hook portion lying the box. substantially in the plane of the'side walls. 'I'he 55 inner end of the shank terminates in a downwardly extending-portion I5 which is connected at its lower `engl with a bifurcated basket-engaging hook I6 having prongs I1, I1 bent down'- wardly and otl'set inwardly from a Ahorizontal portion I 3 connected to the vertically extending part I5.

Registering openings I9, I9 yin the side walls; 20, 20 in the end wall ii'aps, and 2I, 2|' in the strip extensions thereon are preferably provided to receive the bifurcated ends of the handle.

Registering Ventilating openings 22, 22 in the side walls, and 23, 23 in the end wall iiaps are lprovided to afford adequate ventilation of the basket.

In the assembly of the basket the blank will be furnished fiat and the first step will be to bend back the strips I0 along their attached end wall and end wall flaps. The end lwall flaps are then bent to a position substantially at rightangles to the end walls and the side walls are bent upwardly to a position wherein they will lie in the plane of the end wall naps. 'Ihe end wall flaps will then be swung downwardly causing the end wall to assume a position at right-angles to the bottom and preferably causing the side walls to be engaged between the end wall flaps and the strips l0.

When the end wall flaps 9, 9 are resting with their lower edges adjacent the bottom of the basket the openings I9, 2U and 2I will be in substantial registration. The bifurcated ends of the handle members are then inserted through these registering openings preferably through the outside of the basket. When both sections of the handle are in place they may be firmly and practically permanently secured by first engaging one shank I3 in the hook I4 on the opposite shank then twisting such shank around the other as indicated in Fig. 1 and then fastening the hook on this shank around the opposite shank.

It will be obvious that, if desired, the bifurcated ends of the handle sections may be bent reversely to the manner shown so that they may be inserted from the inside of the basket instead of from the outside.

In the modified form of basket illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the basket is made from a blank similar to that shown in Fig. 2, one side wall being indicated at 1a, the end wall flaps at 9a., 9a and the strip extensions at Illa, Illa.y

'I'he handle I2a on this form of the invention is preferably formedin a single piece having a shank I3a joined at each end with a downwardly extending portion Ida, terminating in laterally extending sections I5a. f

The handle I2a is assembled with the bas-A ket by first folding ther basket as described above, then inserting the handle so that the sec;- tions I5a, I5a engage beneath the fold between the strips Illa and the side walls 9a. Securing means such as staples I6a, IGa are then inserted so as to hold such strips firmly in position.

The basket cover of the present invention is preferably constructed so as to prevent accidental displacement and at the same time allow the cover to be somewhat raised when desired for inspection of the contents of the basket.

l Referring to Figs. 1 and'5, the cover 25 has a top panel 2G and depending flanges 2'I, 21 atthe sides thereof and 2B, 28 at its ends. v

In order to provide ready assembly of the cover on the basket, the cover is preferably provided with a transversely extending slot 29 somewhat offset from the center line of the cover and havextending substantially to or slightly past the central transverse lineof the cover. The longitudinal slots l0, III form between them what may be termed a'tongue 3|.

In the use of the cover it isrst placed so that the basket handle passes up through the transverse slot 28 until the flange 2l at one end ofl the cover rests upon the top edge of the basket. In this manner the tongue Il is broughtY to a level below the horizontal shank I3 of the handle, after which the cover may be slid longitudinally ing additional longitudinally extending slots 30, III

of the basket so that the upright parts of the handle are received respectively within the slots 3D, 30. When the handle is substantially in contact with the end of the slots 30, 30 the flange 28 will have dropped down over the end wall of the basket thus causing the cover to be firmly positioned thereon. v

In removing the cover, it is necessary to both lift it and slide it longitudinally of the basket so that it is apparent that the cover cannot be displaced except by positive intention. If it is desired to inspect the contents of the basket the cover may be lifted from either end so that the end of such cover is slightly above the top `of the basket.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the basket 5b is formed from a blank identical in shape with the blank shown in Fig. 2 and comprises, as shown, end walls 8b, 8b and side walls 1b, lb. The strip or rim Ib is folded downwardly as in the previously described forms and apertures 2lb, 2lb are provided in the strip IIlb to receive the ends of the handle, as previously described. Other registering apertures, as previously described, are also provided in thek side walls lIb, 1b.

The handle utilized in this form of the inven- 4tion is designated as a whole at I2b and comprises two identical sections I2c and I2d, one of which is indicated in detail at Fig. 9. Each section of the handle comprises a shank I3b, a hook portion Mb at the free end thereof and a vertical portion I5b terminating in a bifurcated basketengaging hook I 6b having prongs I'Ib, I'Ib offset inwardly from a horizontal portion I 8b connected with the vertical extending portion I5b, all similar to the handle previously described above.

The difference in the handle of the present modification resides in the formation of a retaining member 35h, which, in the present instance is in the shape of a downwardly bent portion or' kink in the horizontal shank I3b of each handle section and near the point of juncture of the shank I3b and the vertical extending portion I 5b. The purpose ofthe retaining member I3b is to retain the handle sections in assembled position as indicated in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the cover 25h is 1n the form of a :dat sheet score'd at 2Gb to permit either end of the cover to be raised for inspectionpf the contents of the basket. The cover' 25h is preferably provided with end aps 28h which may be tucked in at the endsof the basket.

In the use of the embodiment just described,

the basket will be set up and the hood portions of the handle inserted in the apertures therefor, in the same manner as previously described. However, instead of engaging the handle sections in assembled position as shown yin Fig. 8, the sections are brought together so that the hooks Mb, Mb engage the complementary shank portions inside of the retaining members 35h.

It is apparent that the engagement of the handle sections in this manner' will cause the side walls of the basket to be somewhat naredoutwardly. After the contents of the basket have been packed therein the cover is placed on the basket and the flaps 28h, 28h are inserted. After the 'cover' is in place, the handle sections are brought to nal position as indicated at Fig. 8 by exerting inward pressure on each side of the basket. This inward pressure will cause the hooks Hb, IIb to slip past the retaining members '35h and the hooks will then be retained between these members and the vertical portion lib of the handle sections., The cover 2lb is preferably made of such a width as to be engaged by the vertical portion IIb of the handle sections, thus providing for a frictional retention of the cover member'adjacent the mid-portion thereof.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a basket of paper or fibreboard which is admirably suited for the handling oismall quantities of fruit andf vegetables such as grapes and tomatoes and which can be shippedto the packer in a iat, compact form to be readily set up by him.

The side walls of the basket are particularly strong and sturdy as they are of double thickness and additionally reinforced by the outer strip extending around the top of the basket which, at

the same time, is advantageous for use with relatively delicate fruit such as grapes and tomatoes due to the smooth and practically unbroken upper edge of the basket which is formed by the downwardly folded rim. The downturned rim at the top of the basketI also insured proper ventilation of the baskets when piled in a car or storeroom, due to the fact that the rims contact each other and holdthe body portions of the baskets out of close contact, ,thus permitting the free circulation of air both around the baskets as well as into the baskets through the Ventilating openings provided in the side walls.

The form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. l and 8 is particularly well suited for a fruit packer who does not have any form of stapling or riveting equipment. Due to the particular form of -handle shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 9 it is possible to set up the basket in a practically permanent form by the mere act of assembling the handle therewith. By proper proportioning of the bifurcated ends I1, I1 of the handle itis possible to cause these ends to be somewhat imbedded -into the material of the end Wall flaps 9, 9 formpurpose of securing the bent over strip against the outside of the basket.

Due to the particular form of cover employed, the contents of the basket may be eiectively protected during storage and transportation and at theA same time the basket contents may be inspected.v for condition by tilting the cover at one end or the other as has been described. The cover construction is such that it will not be likely to become readily displaced due to the fact that it requires a combination of vertical and longitudinal movements to remove it.

While the present description sets forth a pre-A` bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up, a strip extending from the edge of the end wall flaps and adapted to be bent over the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said aps. and securing means passing through said strips and adjacent side wall at each side of the basket for holding same in set-up condition.

2. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and. end walls, side walls' integrally connected to the bottom, naps on said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up, a strip extending from the edge of the end wall flaps and adapted to be bent over the upper edge of the side Wall adjacent said iiaps, said end wall flaps and strips thereon being of a length so as to substantially meet centrally of the basket, and a single securing means passlng through said strips and adjacent side wall at each side vof the basket for holding same in set-up condition.

3; A nbreboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side walls integrally connected to the bottom, naps on said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side walls when the basket is set up, a strip extending from the edge of the end wall flaps and adapted to be bent over the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said aps, said end Wall ap's and strips thereon being of a length so as to substantially meet centrally of the basket, and a handle for the basket having means projecting through said strips and adjacent side wall at each side of the basket for securing the handle in place and at the same time holding the basket in set-up condition.

4. A breboard basket comprising a bottom and end walls, side walls integrally 'connected to the bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side wall when the basket is set up, al strip extending from the edge of the end Wall and end wall flaps and adapted t0 be bent over to lie against the outside of the end wall and the side Walls to provide a single rim extending around the corners of the basket, and means for securing the basket in set-up condition.

5. A breboard basket of relatively heavy fibreboard, comprising a bottom and end walls, side walls integrally connected to the bottom, flaps on said end walls and defined therefrom by score lines to adapt said flaps to be folded so as to lie against the side wall when the basket 'is set up, a strip extending from the edge of the end wall and end wall flaps and defined therefrom by Score lines so as to adapt said strip to be bent over to lie against the outside of the end wall and the side walls to provide a single rim extending around the corners of the basket, means for securing the basket in set-up condition, anddie.. cut openings formed at the intersection of the score lines above mentioned adapted to facilitate sensing of the strip against the outside of the as e y Y bottom, flaps on said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side walls, when the basket is set up, a strip extending from the edge of each of vthe end wall flaps and adapted to be folded over the upper edges of the side walls adjacent said flaps, said ilaps and the strips thereon being of a length so as to substantially meet centrally of the side walls, a handle for the basket, said handle including a pair of vertically extending portions, and horizontally extending portions at the lower ends of each vertically extending portion, said horizontally extending portions being disposed respectively beneath the folds formed between the end wall flaps and the ex' tended strips thereon.

7. A handle section for a collapsible flbreboard basket, said section comprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joined thereto and terminating at its outer end in a hooked portion adapted to engage beneath a similar lteraliy extending shank on another handle section, said upstanding portion terminating at its lower end in a basket wall engaging hook.

8. A handle section for a collapsible fibreboard basket', said section comprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joined thereto and terminating at its outer end in a hooked portion adapted to engage beneath a similar lat- -erally extending shank on another handle section, said upstanding portion terminating at its lower end in a bifurcated hook adapted to extend from the outside of the basket through the basket wall and contact the inner face of the basket.

9. A handle section for a collapsible breboard basket, said section comprising an upstanding portion, a laterally extending shank joined thereto, means associated with said laterally extending shank for connecting same to the shank of a similar handle section, said downwardly extending section terminating at its lower end in a basket wall engaging hook.v

10. A flbreboard basket comprising a bottom, end walls and side walls cooperating therewith, a reinforcing member lying ilat against each side Wall to stiien and strengthen same, said reinforcing members having a strip extension thereon adapted to fold over the upper edge of the adjacent side wall, and handle means for the basket including means for securing said extended strip to side wall.

l1. A collapsible breboard basket of relatively heavy i'ibreboard material comprising bottom, side and end walls, flaps on the endrwalls adapted to lie against the inner faces of the side walls, and a downturned rim extension integral with the end walls and end wall flaps and lying on the outside of the basket to provide a smooth unbroken rim around the corners of the basket, a portion of the basket being cut away at the upper corners of the basket to facilitate bending of the rim extension.

12. A fibreboard basket formed of a single blank of sheet material, a bottom panel, side walls hingedly connected thereto, end walls on the ends of said bottom panel, end wall flaps extending laterally from the end walls, said end wall iiaps being adapted to lie against the inside surface of the side walls, an extended strip on the outer edge of the end wall and end wall flaps, said strip being defined from the end wall by a score line and being adapted to be bent over to lie against the outer surface of the side walls, said side wall having handle-receiving apertures centrally thereof and the end wall flaps as well as the strips thereon having apertures'that register respectively with one of the apertures in the side wall, and a handle member having bifurcated end portions at each end adapted to engage through said registering apertures whereby the end wall flaps and the strip extensions thereon are held in fixed relation to the side walls.

13. A fibreboard basket comprising a bottom, side and end walls, ka handle for said basket, said handle having upstanding portions extending substantially from the top edges of said walls, a transverse portion of the handle connecting said upstanding portions, a cover adapted to close the upper side of said basket, said cover having a depending iiange around its outer edges and being provided with a transversely extending slot adapted to allow passage of the handle therethrough, said slot being offset from the center of the cover, additional slots formed in the cover at each side thereof and communicating with said first-mentioned slot and extending to substantially the transverse center of the cover. whereby the cover after being placed on the basket through the first-mentioned transverse slot, may be slid lengthwise to allow the flanges of the cover to engage around the basket.

14. A cover adapted for use with a basket having a handle disposed centrally and trans- Vversely of its length, said cover having a depending flange around its outer edges and being provided with a transversely extending slot adapted to allow passage of a basket handle therethrough, said slot being onset from the center of the cover,y additional slots formed in the cover at each side thereof and communicating with said first-mentioned slot and extending to substantially the transverse center of the cover, whereby the cover after being placed on the basket through the flrst-mentioned transverse slot, may be slid lengthwise to allow. the flanges of the cover to engage around the basket.

15. A iibreboard basket comprising a bottom, end and side walls, a handle comprising two sections engaged respectively with the opposite side walls and each section including an upstanding.

portion, a horizontal portion connected thereto and a hook at the outward extremity of the horizontal portion, a retaining member formed on each horizontal portion adiacent but spaced from the upstanding portion, said retaining member on each handle section being adapted to retain the hook of the opposite handle section against displacement in a direction toward the mid-portion of the handle.

16. A breboard basket comprising a bottom, end and side walls, a handle comprising two sections engaged respectively with the opposite side walls and each section including an upstanding portion, a horizontal portion connected thereto and a hook at the outward extremity of the horizontal portion, a retaining member formed on each horizontal portion adjacent but spaced from the upstanding portion, said retaining member on each handle section being adapted to retain the hook on a side thereof remote from the upstanding portion of the opposite'section while the basket is being filled, and being further adapted to permit the hook portions to pass thereby when pressure is exerted at opposite ends of the handle, whereby the hooks will snap into place and be retained between the upstanding portions of the handle and the retaining members.

17. A flbreboard receptacle comprising a bottom and end walls, side walls integrally connected to the bottom, a pair of flaps on each of said end walls adapted to be folded so as to lie against the side walls when the receptacle is set up, and strips extending from the upper edge portions of the aps of each end Wall and bent over the upper edges of the side Walls adjacent said flaps.

18. A breboard receptacle comprising a bot--v 20 tom,fend walls and side walls integrally connected to the bottom, a pair of elongated flaps integral with each' end wall and folded so as to lie against and frictionally engaging the side walls, and a strip extending from the upper edge portion of each of the end walls and its naps t and bent over .the upper edges of the side walls for holding the receptacle in set-up condition.

20. A fibreboard receptacle comprising a bottom, a first pair of oppositely disposed walls integrally connected with the bottom, a second pair of oppositely disposed walls integrally connected to the bottom and arranged at angles to the walls of the first pair, aps on said second pair of walls folded so as to lie against the inner surfaces of the iirst pair of Walls, and a strip extending from each wall of the second pair and from its vfiaps and bent over the upper edges of the walls of the rst pair, said strips forming a rim extending substantially around the upper edge portion of the receptacle.

BENJAMIN F. Knus. 

